Cosmetic brush applicator system

ABSTRACT

An integrated cosmetic brush applicator system having both a brush section and reservoir section in which the brush can be pushed to an extended applicator position moveable out from the brush section an automatically pushed back into a retracted storage position when the brush section is tightly connected to the reservoir section. A push button assembly enables the brush to manually be pushed out from its retracted to an extended position permitting the brush to be used to apply cosmetic material. The brush is in contact with the reservoir section to allow cosmetic material to coat the brush when the system is in the closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for holding and applying powdered cosmetic material.

It is desirable to transport cosmetic materials easily and securely within a container. Also, it is desirable to use an applicator to apply cosmetic materials to the skin of the face and the body. Additionally, an applicator should store easily and be integrated within the container reducing the number of items the user needs available, without reducing functionality.

It is also desirable that when people store their cosmetics in cosmetic containers, that they be stored neatly. Frequently women store these on a shelf or the like, and individual containers can be stored randomly,

An object of this invention is to provide an integrated cosmetic applicator/storage container which is neat when carried and allows simple application of cosmetic material.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an applicator system in which the storage container holding cosmetic material is readily accessible to the brush by which cosmetic material is applied.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a device in which the brush is automatically moved from an extended application position to a retracted storage position when the cosmetic brush applicator of this system is closed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a cosmetic brush applicator system which, with a simple manual movement, the brush is moved from a retracted stored position to an extended applicator position so as to apply cosmetic material.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a system in which a container holding cosmetic material may be easily filled and refilled as desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a system which is simple to manufacture, inexpensive, yet otherwise attractive and susceptible of widespread use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator system which integrates suitable connecting means enabling other cosmetic items to be magnetically attached so as to enable such systems to be stored in a neat fashion.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principals of this invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing a cosmetic brush applicator system comprising two sections which may be tightly connected together or separated. The upper section is the cosmetic brush applicator system and the lower is the reservoir system. Cosmetic material stored within the reservoir system is transferred to the brush when the two separate units are connected together merely by shaking the unit. A sifter is provided between the compartment storing the cosmetic material and an applicator cavity, the applicator cavity facing the brush so that the material passing through the sifter and residing within the applicator cavity is accessible to the brush for the brush to pick up the cosmetic material for later application.

As a feature of the present invention, mating bearing surfaces are provided on the applicator and reservoir sections so that when the sections are connected together, the brush is automatically pushed from an extended applicator position to a retracted storage position. Additionally, the unit is provided with additional magnetic elements on opposite sides, permitting this unit to be attached to other cosmetic housings, so that separate cosmetic housings may be connected together through magnetic couplings to enable these devices to be neatly stored, yet simply separated from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a perspective view of the device of this invention.

FIG. 2. is a perspective view of the upper part of the device with the applicator extended.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower part of the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the entire device with the upper and lower sections separated and the applicator extended.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the entire device with the upper and lower sections connected and the applicator retracted.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of two cosmetic containers having magnetic elements allowing them to physically attach together for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A device 10 is shown for containing and applying powdered cosmetic material to the face or body. The device has two parts, upper 11 and lower 13. The lower part 13 comprises a chamber for holding and transporting the powdered cosmetic material. The upper part 11 of the device acts as a cap to enclose the powdered cosmetic material as well as hold an applicator 21 for applying the material. When the device is in its closed state, the applicator 21 remains within the upper part of the device. When the upper part 11 is separated from the lower part 13, the applicator 21 can be extended by pushing on the central button portion 15 of the top of the container 10. In its extended state, the applicator 21 can be used to transfer powdered cosmetic material carried in the bottom part to the surface of the face and body.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device 10 in its closed state. The lower part 13 of the device is hollow and holds cosmetic powder, which is retained by an end cap 17. End cap 17 is removable permitting refilling of lower part 13. The upper part 11 of the device has a sliding button assembly 15 centered in the top. To open the device 10, the user pulls or twists the upper part 11 away from the lower part 13.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part 13 of the device 11 separated from the lower part of the device and with the applicator 21 shown extended. The sliding button 15 has been pushed to the bottom of the upper part 11. The applicator 21 is extended by pushing on the top of the sliding button assembly 15 which, in turn, slides along the inside wall 16 (see FIG. 4) of the upper part until it rests on the inside of the bottom wall 14 of the upper part.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower part 13 of the device with the upper part of the device removed. The lower part 13 is fully enclosed except for a hole, or several holes in a sifter 25 located at the bottom of an applicator cavity 31 with sifter 25 being in communication with a lower container 33 formed within bottom part 13 and closed with end cap 17. Lower container 33 holds powder which is carried through sifter 25 into applicator cavity 31. The holes in sifter 25 can be used to sift the powdered cosmetic material into a finer and more easily applied powder.

A return flange 27 is formed at the top of the lower part 13. The return flange 27 has a pushing surface 28 integrally formed therewith at the apex of the lower part 13 such that when the upper part of the device is closed over the lower part, the pushing surface 28 forces the sliding button 15 upward to its original retracted position. The return flange 27 and its base form the applicator cavity 31 previously described. A retaining feature 23, such as a snap fit or a thread, located just outside cavity 31 engages a matching structure 29 in the upper part of the device which keeps the upper and lower parts together.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device with the upper and lower parts separated. By shaking the package while together, powdered cosmetic material 30 in lower container 33 is displaced from the material holding chamber 33 through the sifter 25 and into the applicator cavity 31 within the return flange 27.

The upper part of the device is separated from the lower part of the device through a pulling or twisting motion which frees the lower retaining feature 23 from the upper retaining structure 29. The upper retaining structure 29 is formed on the inside of the upper part 11 while the lower retaining structure 23 is formed on the outside of the return flange 27. The applicator is extended by pushing on the top of the button 15 while holding the upper part 11 steady. The button 15 extends to side flanges 15 a which slide on and along inside wall 16 of the upper part 11 until flange 15 a contacts and stops at the bottom wall 14 of the upper part 11. The applicator 21 can now be used to pick up product from the applicator cavity 31 and apply it onto the face or body.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the device 10 with the upper part attached to the lower part through structures 23 and 29. As the upper part is placed onto the lower part, the pushing surface 28 of the return flange 27 pushes the bottom edge 32 of the button assembly 15. The bottom edge 32 is the end of the flange 15 a.

The button 15 slides along the inside wall 16 of the upper part 11 until the button assembly 15 is in the retracted position. The applicator 21 is attached to the button assembly 15 in a retaining cylinder 34 and moves with the sliding button into the retracted position. Retaining cylinder 34 is integrally formed downwardly extending and central to the top 11. With the applicator 21 retracted and contained within the applicator cavity 31, the upper part of the device can now be releasably attached to the lower part of the device by pressing the two parts together or through a twisting motion. The lower retaining structure 23 engages with the upper retaining structure 29.

One of the important aspects of the present invention is that the brush automatically is retracted as the device of this invention is connected together so that the brush does not degrade in performance because it does not remain in contact in the powder.

The integrated applicator of this invention has the unique advantage of allowing the brush 21 to be retracted or projected as desired, but the powdered material is retained in the closed storage container 33 and is able to sift into the applicator cavity 31 which serves as a type of bowl or cup. The user merely pushes the button 15, projects the brush, and has the brush bristles pick up the powdered material for application. After application, the top and bottom parts are connected together and the brush 21 is automatically retracted into the upper portion by direct mechanical force. This integrated compact arrangement is unique, highly attractive, and highly original in both concept, appearance and use.

Another aspect of this invention is the provision of the device of the present invention being neatly stored with other cosmetics containers. FIG. 6 illustrates this aspect of this invention in which the device 10 has integrally attached thereto magnetic elements 61 on one side and 63 on the other side. A blusher or other cosmetic container 62 also has magnetic elements 64 on one side and 66 on the other. The user can store individual cosmetic units more neatly by attaching the magnetic elements to each other so that the elements are neatly lined up one next to the other. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 has two magnetic elements on each unit, but only a single magnetic element may be required per unit, if only two units are to be connected. As may be understood, one advantage of this magnetic storage arrangement is that a user can have a plurality of individual containers magnetically attached one to the other and stored in a most neat fashion.

It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly legally and equitably entitled. 

1. A cosmetic brush applicator system comprising a brush section and a reservoir section, said brush and reservoir sections comprising connecting means to connect said sections to be a single unit and to separate said sections to permit said brush section to apply cosmetic material, said brush section comprising a brush housing and movable button assembly to push said brush from a retracted to an extended position, said brush being held in said brush section in a retracted position when said brush and reservoir sections are connected together, said movable button assembly connected to said brush to allow a user to manually move said brush to said extended position, said reservoir section comprising a compartment holding said cosmetic material to be applied by said brush, said cosmetic material being transferred from said reservoir section to said brush when said brush and reservoir sections are connected together, and said button assembly comprising a bearing surface and said reservoir section comprising a surface which bears against said bearing surface to push said brush from said extended to said retracted positions as said brush and reservoir sections are connected together.
 2. A cosmetic brush applicator system as in claim 1, wherein said cosmetic material is a powder.
 3. A cosmetic brush applicator system as in claim 1, wherein said reservoir section comprises a cosmetic material storage compartment, a cosmetic material applicator cavity and a sifter located between said storage compartment and said applicator cavity, cosmetic material passing through said sifter to be available in said applicator cavity to permit said brush to acquire said cosmetic material when said brush and reservoir sections are connected together.
 4. A cosmetic brush applicator system as in claim 3, wherein said connecting means tightly connects said brush and reservoir sections and enables said unit to be shaken, permitting cosmetic powder to pass from said storage compartment through said sifter into said applicator cavity to be deposited on said brush.
 5. A cosmetic brush applicator system as in claim 1, wherein said movable button assembly comprises a flange which slides along and bears against an inner surface of said brush housing.
 6. A cosmetic brush applicator system as in claim 1, further comprising a removable end cap covering said compartment of said reservoir section permitting cosmetic material to be loaded into said compartment.
 7. A cosmetic brush applicator system as in claim 1, further comprising magnetic elements attached on opposite sides of said system for magnetically coupling to cosmetic containers which themselves have magnetic couplings connected on opposite sides thereof. 